Ohio is proud to be known for many things: the buckeye, the birthplace of aviation, the home to rock ‘n’ roll, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame among them.
Multiple U.S. presidents are from Ohio, too. The state claims the nickname “The Mother of Presidents” thanks to the many who hail from the Buckeye State. Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William H. Taft, and Warren G. Harding all were born in Ohio.
William H. Harrison was born in Virginia, but lived in Ohio for a period of time as well and is considered a native to both states.
But another claim to fame for Ohio is its roster of astronauts. A total of 25 astronauts are from the Buckeye State.
In honor of the many Ohioans dedicating their life to leaving the planet, the Dispatch is celebrating their stories, history and legacy as part of this year’s America 250 celebration.
We’ve already shared one profile, penned by our colleagues in Akron in honor of the anniversary of the Challenger explosion. Learn more about Resnik here.
And we’re kicking off our features with one of the most well-known astronauts from the state: Jim Lovell, made famous by the Apollo 13 and the film depicting the crisis.
Throughout the year, readers will learn about one or two astronauts once a month as our reporters tell the stories of these brave Ohioans.
While not every astronaut may be covered with an individual story, readers can look toward the end of the year, when a larger story will feature the Ohioans who have made their way into outer space.
Emily Rohozen is the entertainment and things-to-do editor for the Dispatch and can be reached at erohozen@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio astronauts in the spotlight in yearlong Dispatch project